West Indies Bowlers More Generous Now

Interesting article on the changes in West Indies Cricket by Martin Johnston in The Telegraph.

Their bowling attack is significantly more friendly and pleasant to be around for opposition batsmen now that Garner Holding, Croft, Marshall and Roberts are long gone.

It is inconceivable that an English batting line up would get four centuries against a West Indies pace attack from the 70s and 80s, far less still be batting at the end of Day 2.

Also the culture of cricket has changed dramatically.

It's definitely becoming more boring being a professional sportsman. Tiger Woods is out of bed and doing his press-ups before the milkman has set off on his round, snooker players are going to the gym, and there has even been the occasional sighting of a darts player sipping mineral water and wearing a shirt with less material than your average family camping tent. Cricket used to be the most unhealthy game of the lot. A fried breakfast, pot of tea and biscuits before play, a four-course lunch, jam scones in the afternoon and several pints of ale and a curry at night.

There were times when a side would win the toss and bat, not so much because of the playing conditions, but because three of their players hadn't made it to the ground after the previous night's bender.

That said, there is always Andrew Flintoff.